250 AFRICAN WANDERINGS.

l>een more than half a year from Chartum, and constantly in the field, and not once have I enjoyed the great luxury of reposing undressed between clean-washed linen sheets, but have invariably slept, full dressed, on the ground, or on the angareb. Our best linen soon vanishes, as the constant perspiration spoils its purity, the chalky dust burns into it, and the servants know nothing of washing ; near their black skin all seems to them white ; and, alas for three months we have had no soap. Li the midst of such a lazy, idle life, creeping on like a slow fever, all at once one hears the cry of " Jalla ! " and one hangs for four or five days, eighty or 8. hundred leagues on a camel's back, shaken and rubbed till sore in body and bones, with a glowing sun, or sudden cold, and constant thirst and hunger as embellishments. But a man can bear much ; I have held out through what I never would have believed. In violent fever, mounted on a dromedary, in midday sunbeams, more dead than living, held on by others, — and yet I recovered. To remain behind was certain death from the hand of the enemy, or the teeth of wild beasts. I have experienced what necessity will force a man to bear. In this monotonous state of existence and uniform manner of life, I compared myself to the camels picketed outside our tent, under the burning sun, now perfectly quiet, now lazily stretching themselves, undisturbed, though crows and ravens walk about on their backs, ever chewing the cud, or, as a change, seizing a blade of grass, and never showing the slightest sign of joy or curiosity.

CHAP. XIV.

Advance against the Enemy. — Retreat.— Omar Kaschef. — Great Cavern of the Kiissela-el-Lus. — Baobab Trees. — Hunting. — Birds.— Beasts.

Pascha's Plans Quit the Camp for Chartum.— Conclusion, The Haddenda continue shooting our camels, although these are sent out to feed under military escort. We, ourselves, have during this campaign lost in all five and twenty camels and six dromedaries by such robberies,— a loss that falls on ©ur own purse, as we could not bring ourselves to ask the